Drought Risk in Washington
All Washington counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index drought score
Drought risk — extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture — is rated for 33 of 39 Washington counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Yakima County carries the state's highest drought score at 36.1, with $37K in expected annual drought losses.
No Washington county reaches the High band for drought, and expected annual losses from drought total roughly $125K statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Drought
| # | County | Drought Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima County | Low | 23.53 / yr | $37K | |
| 2 | Grant County | Low | 19.27 / yr | $26K | |
| 3 | Benton County | Very Low | 25.70 / yr | $20K | |
| 4 | Walla Walla County | Very Low | 22.54 / yr | $9K | |
| 5 | Franklin County | Very Low | 14.57 / yr | $8K | |
| 6 | Adams County | Very Low | 14.38 / yr | $4K | |
| 7 | Okanogan County | Very Low | 7.18 / yr | $3K | |
| 8 | Whitman County | Very Low | 14.61 / yr | $5K | |
| 9 | Douglas County | Very Low | 14.82 / yr | $2K | |
| 10 | Lincoln County | Very Low | 14.17 / yr | $2K | |
| 11 | Klickitat County | Very Low | 22.58 / yr | $2K | |
| 12 | Chelan County | Very Low | 7.83 / yr | $2K | |
| 13 | Spokane County | Very Low | 13.24 / yr | $2K | |
| 14 | Kittitas County | Very Low | 15.80 / yr | $1K | |
| 15 | Columbia County | Very Low | 23.56 / yr | $479 | |
| 16 | Garfield County | Very Low | 24.11 / yr | $559 | |
| 17 | Whatcom County | Very Low | 5.95 / yr | $503 | |
| 18 | Stevens County | Very Low | 12.16 / yr | $170 | |
| 19 | Asotin County | Very Low | 28.56 / yr | $155 | |
| 20 | King County | Very Low | 3.99 / yr | $240 | |
| 21 | Skagit County | Very Low | 4.65 / yr | $181 | |
| 22 | Thurston County | Very Low | 1.28 / yr | $107 | |
| 23 | Lewis County | Very Low | 2.62 / yr | $46 | |
| 24 | Pend Oreille County | Very Low | 13.61 / yr | $39 | |
| 25 | Snohomish County | Very Low | 4.72 / yr | $44 | |
| 26 | Grays Harbor County | Very Low | 1.39 / yr | $33 | |
| 27 | Ferry County | Very Low | 11.36 / yr | $16 | |
| 28 | Pierce County | Very Low | 3.44 / yr | $11 | |
| 29 | Pacific County | Very Low | 1.35 / yr | $10 | |
| 30 | Clallam County | Very Low | 0.83 / yr | $5 | |
| 31 | Skamania County | Very Low | 5.01 / yr | $8 | |
| 32 | Mason County | Very Low | 1.27 / yr | $5 | |
| 33 | Jefferson County | Very Low | 1.30 / yr | $2 |
33 Washington counties with measurable drought risk. See the national drought ranking or all Washington counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Washington county has the highest drought risk?
Yakima County has the highest FEMA drought risk score in Washington at 36.1 (Low), with $37K in expected annual losses and about 23.53 events per year.
How many Washington counties face significant drought risk?
33 Washington counties record measurable drought risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 0 of them are rated High or Very High.